Baby delivered from brain-dead woman on life support in Georgia
ATLANTA (AP) — The baby of a woman in Georgia who was declared brain dead and has been on life support since February was delivered early Friday morning, her mother said.
April Newkirk told WXIA-TV that 31-year-old Adriana Smith's baby was born prematurely by an emergency cesarean section early Friday, the Atlanta station reported Monday night. She was about six months into her pregnancy. The baby, named Chance, weighs about 1 pound and 13 ounces and is in the neonatal intensive care unit.
'He's expected to be okay,' Newkirk told the TV station. 'He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him.'
Newkirk said her daughter had intense headaches more than four months ago and went to Atlanta's Northside Hospital, where she received medication and was released. The next morning, her boyfriend woke to her gasping for air and called 911. Emory University Hospital determined she had blood clots in her brain and she was declared brain-dead. She was eight weeks pregnant, according to WXIA.
Newkirk said Smith would be taken off of life support Tuesday.
The Associated Press reached called and emailed Emory Tuesday for comment. It is unclear why Emory decided to deliver the baby. The Associated Press has also tried to contact Newkirk.
Smith's family said Emory doctors told them they were not allowed to remove the devices keeping her breathing because state law bans abortion after cardiac activity can be detected — generally around six weeks into pregnancy.
Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr later issued a statement saying the law did not require medical professionals to keep a woman declared brain dead on life support.
'Removing life support is not an action 'with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy,'' Carr said.
Newkirk said Smith loved being a nurse at Emory. She also has a 7-year-old son. Her family celebrated her 31st birthday Sunday with several advocacy groups. Newkirk did not speak at the event.
'I'm her mother,' Newkirk told WXIA. 'I shouldn't be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
10 minutes ago
- CBS News
5 medical debt relief options that actually work
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you're struggling under the weight of your medical debt, there are ways to get some much-needed relief. Getty Images The cost of healthcare in the U.S. has always been high, but for many Americans, the issue has gone from frustrating to financially devastating. More than 41% of adults are now carrying some form of healthcare-related debt, according to a recent KFF Health Care Debt Survey — which includes healthcare debts owed to credit cards, collections agencies, family and friends, banks and other lenders. And it's not just those without insurance who are facing this type of issue. Those with coverage are also falling behind due to issues with high deductibles, denied claims and unexpected bills that show up months later. What makes medical debt especially tricky is that it often stems from emergencies or unexpected diagnoses. Unlike credit card debt or personal loans, where you knowingly agree to borrow money, medical debt is something most people don't willingly sign up for. They get sick, they get care and then get stuck with a bill they can't afford. And, to make matters worse, some unpaid medical debt can show up on your credit report or get sent to collections, creating even more financial stress. If you're struggling with medical bills, though, you do have some options to consider. Healthcare providers, government programs and debt relief organizations offer various pathways to reduce or eliminate medical debt, but to take advantage of this type of relief, you'll need to know which options are available and how to navigate them effectively. Find out how you can start tackling your debt problems now. 5 medical debt relief options that actually work Here are some of the most effective ways to deal with overwhelming medical debt right now: Negotiate directly with the provider Before you take a more drastic step, try calling the hospital or provider's billing office about your medical debt. Many healthcare providers are surprisingly open to negotiating, especially if you're willing to pay a portion of the bill upfront. By doing this, you may be able to: Settle the debt for less than the full amount Set up a low-rate or interest-free payment plan Access discounts for uninsured or low-income patients In some cases, nonprofit hospitals are even required to offer financial assistance under federal law, so it may pay to ask about the programs available to you. Explore how debt relief could help get your finances back on track. Apply for hospital financial assistance or charity care If your income is below a certain threshold, you might qualify for your bill to be reduced or forgiven altogether. These programs, often referred to as charity care, are offered by most nonprofit hospitals, and they often go unused simply because patients don't know they exist. Eligibility varies, but in general, if you earn below 200% to 400% of the federal poverty level, you could be a candidate. Make sure to submit your application as soon as possible, ideally before the bill is sent to collections. Use a medical bill advocate A medical billing advocate is like a detective for your healthcare expenses. They'll go through your bills line-by-line to catch errors, double charges or services you shouldn't have been billed for at all. Studies have shown that the majority of medical bills contain some kind of mistake, so taking this route could pay off. These services aren't free, though. Some advocates charge a flat fee or a percentage of the savings while others work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't pay unless they lower your bill. But if your bill is over $1,000 or looks confusing, it may be worth the extra cost. Enroll in a debt consolidation or debt management program If your medical debt is mixed in with credit card debt — let's say you used a credit card to pay for procedures — then a traditional debt relief strategy, like debt consolidation, could help. A debt consolidation loan can be used to combine multiple debts into a single monthly payment, typically at a lower interest rate than your credit cards. This won't reduce the total you owe, but it can make the repayment process more manageable. You also have the option of working with a credit counseling agency to create a debt management plan, which allows them to negotiate lower interest rates and handle disbursing the monthly payments for you. You make one payment to the credit counseling agency each month and the money is then used by the credit counseling agency to pay your creditors. If you want to take this route, though, just be cautious of companies that promise quick fixes and always verify credentials before signing up. Consider debt settlement (with caution) Pursuing debt settlement is also an option (though it should be a last resort in most cases), especially if your medical debt is already in collections and you're unable to pay in full. You or a professional debt relief expert can offer a lump sum payment that's less than what you owe in exchange for clearing the debt. Many debt collection agencies will accept 50% to 70% of the total balance. This strategy has risks, though. Settled debt can hurt your credit score, and if you work with a for-profit company, you'll also have to pay fees on your settled debt. Any forgiven debt over $600 may also be considered taxable income by the IRS, so weigh the pros and cons carefully. The bottom line Medical debt can feel crushing, especially when it comes on the heels of a health scare or emergency, but there are more ways to get help than you might think. From negotiating with providers to applying for financial assistance or exploring traditional debt relief options, there are real, actionable ways to take control of your situation. But if you want to maximize the chances of a positive outcome, make sure to start the process early if possible. The sooner you explore your options, the more likely you are to avoid lasting damage — and maybe even save more money in the process.
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
'Grey's Anatomy' alum Eric Dane prepared to go to extreme measures to fight ALS
Eric Dane is prepared to go to extreme measures to fight ALS. "I will fly to Germany and eat the head off a rattlesnake if [doctors] told me that that would help," the 52-year-old "Grey's Anatomy" alum told Diane Sawyer during a sit-down interview on "Good Morning America." "I'll assume the risk." During the interview, which aired Tuesday, Dane opened up about the debilitating disease and explained how he's found hope in the physician who has been leading his care. "I'm very hopeful... I don't think this is the end of my story," he said. "And whether it is or it isn't, I'm gonna carry that idea with me. "That's what I got from [Dr. Merit Cudkowicz] when I met her... there was a sense of hope I didn't get from other doctors that I met with," Dane said of his doctor, a neurologist and leading ALS researcher. Dane said that he had spoken previously with an organization that told him his doctors would be "there to... monitor my decline — and that's not very helpful." Dr. Cudkowicz said the risk factors behind the disease can include anything from environmental concerns like plastics and bacteria in lakes to sports injuries. "We worry about head trauma because we do see ALS more common in people in certain sports like football or soccer. We worry about pesticides as well. Being in the military is a risk factor," she said. "Those are the ones we know about, but there's many more we don't know about. "There's people all over the world working on this," she said, referring to ALS research. "Between artificial intelligence and other imaging technology, that's what gets me excited, and that's all coming in the next, I think, one to two years, if not faster." Dane, who revealed his diagnosis in April, said in another segment of the interview that aired Monday that he first started experiencing weakness in his right hand before seeking medical attention. "I didn't really think anything of it at the time," he told Sawyer. "I thought maybe I'd been texting too much and my hand was fatigued. A few weeks later, I noticed it'd gotten a little worse. I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, 'This is way above my pay grade.' "I have one functioning arm," he said. "My left side is functioning. My right side has completely stopped working. [My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months, and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering." He said that for now, he is able to walk, but added, "I'm worried about my legs." Dane admitted that he will "never forget" the moment he was diagnosed. "I will never forget those three letters, [ALS]. It's on me the second I wake up," he said. "It's not a dream." The actor, who shares two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with wife Rebecca Gayheart, said he began noticing more of the effects of his disease a few months ago during a boating trip with his daughter. After jumping into the water, Dane — a former competitive swimmer — quickly realized he was not able to swim. "[Georgia] dragged me back to the boat," said Dane, who recalled immediately breaking down in tears once on the boat. "I was just, I was, like, heartbroken." Dane also told Sawyer that he is "angry" about the diagnosis, explaining, "I'm angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there's a very good chance that I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young." "I mean, I really, at the end of the day, just, all I want to do is spend time with my family and work a little bit if I can," he added. Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash contributed to this post.
Medscape
31 minutes ago
- Medscape
Judge Deems Trump's National Institutes Of Health Grant Cuts Illegal
BOSTON (Reuters) -A federal judge in Boston on Monday said the termination of National Institutes of Health grants for research on diversity-related topics by President Donald Trump's administration was "void and illegal," and accused the government of discriminating against racial minorities and LGBT people. U.S. District Judge William Young during a non-jury trial said the NIH violated federal law by arbitrarily canceling more than $1 billion in research grants because of their perceived connection to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Young said he was reinstating grants that had been awarded to organizations and Democratic-led states that sued over the terminations. And the judge indicated that as the case proceeds he could issue a more sweeping decision. "This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America's LGBTQ community," said Young, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan. "Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires the court to enjoin it and at an appropriate time, I'm going to do it." Referring to the termination of grants for research related to issues involving racial minorities, the judge said he had in four decades on the bench "never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable." "You are bearing down on people of color because of their color," the judge said, referring to Trump's administration. "The Constitution will not permit that." Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency stands by its decision to end funding for research "that prioritized ideological agendas over scientific rigor and meaningful outcomes for the American people," and is considering an appeal. "Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration, HHS is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars support programs rooted in evidence-based practices and gold standard science – not driven by divisive DEI mandates or gender ideology," Nixon said in a statement, referring to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rachel Meeropol of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the grant recipients who sued, said Young's ruling applies to hundreds of grants. The plaintiffs include the American Public Health Association, a membership organization for public health researchers, and 16 states led by Massachusetts. The NIH, the world's leading funder of biomedical and behavioral research, has terminated 2,100 research grants totaling about $9.5 billion and an additional $2.6 billion in contracts since Trump took office in January, according to a letter that dozens of NIH employees signed last week, protesting the cuts. The funding cuts are part of Trump's wide-ranging actions to reshape the government, slash federal spending and end government support for DEI programs and transgender healthcare. The administration's plans to cut 10,000 jobs at health agencies including NIH have been temporarily blocked by another federal judge. Trump also has signed a series of executive orders requiring agencies to ensure grant funds do not promote "gender ideology" and to end support of what it sees as discriminatory DEI programs. Conservative critics of DEI programs have portrayed them as discriminatory against white people and certain others. In line with Trump's policy agenda, the NIH has instructed staff to terminate grant funding for studies related to DEI programs, transgender issues, COVID-19 and ways to curb vaccine hesitancy, and grants that could potentially benefit Chinese universities. The trial that Young held on Monday concerned only some of the claims in the consolidated lawsuits over the cuts. The judge will consider others later. Young said he would give the parties an opportunity to present further evidence before he rules on those claims and decides whether to reinstate grants beyond those awarded to the plaintiffs. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in a statement said Young's ruling was welcome, but that the NIH cuts had already halted crucial research into cures for disease including cancer and Alzheimer's. "He forced our research universities to lay off staff and rescind PhD offers. And he handed China and other foreign countries the opportunity to recruit away our researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs," said Healey, a Democrat. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Will Dunham and Matthew Lewis)
